February 1, 2011
We would like to provide you with the following information from various CDC programs related to winter weather hazards. Content links are provided. If you have questions on these or other clinical issues, contact us at coca@cdc.gov.
Winter Weather Health and Safety Concerns
Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outside, can cause other serious or life-threatening health problems. To keep yourself and your family safe, you should know how to prevent cold-related health problems and what to do if a cold-weather health emergency arises.
Winter weather increases the likelihood of carbon monoxide exposure from indoor generators and inadequately ventilated gas-fueled heaters. Other common cold-related problems are hypothermia, frostbite, and injury. Below are CDC resources that address these issues.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
· Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/guide.asp
· Winter Weather FAQs
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/faq.asp
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
· CDC Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Homepage
http://www.cdc.gov/co/default.htm
· Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After a Disaster
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/carbonmonoxide.asp
· Clinical Guidance for Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning After a Disaster
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/co_guidance.asp
· Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Clinical Education
Clinical education and online course on Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning that provide information on diagnosis, reporting, and treatment of CO poisoning by clinicians and health care providers.
http://www2a.cdc.gov/phtn/COPoisonPrev/default.asp
· Mack KA, Liller KD, Damon S. Response to letter to the editor: “CO Detectors prevent CO Poisoning” Am J Lifestyle Medicine 2010; 4:368. http://ajl.sagepub.com/content/4/4/368.full.pdf+html
Hypothermia
· Winter Weather: Hypothermia
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/staysafe/hypothermia.asp
· Hypothermia-Related Deaths — United States, 1999–2002 and 2005
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5510a5.htm
· Winter Weather: Frostbite
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/staysafe/frostbite.asp
· CDC Power Outages Homepage
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/
· What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/needtoknow.asp
Other Resources and Articles
· Be Prepared: Staying Safe and Healthy in Winter Weather
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/WinterWeather/
· NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topics: Cold Stress
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/coldstress/
· Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA): Tips to Protect Workers in Cold Environments
http://www.osha.gov/html/cold_protection_2004.html
· Articles from MMWR and other Journals
A bibliography of articles about winter hazards including Hypothermia, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Ice Storms, and Snowmobiles.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/bibliography.asp
The CDC and HHS logos are the exclusive property of the Department of Health and Human Services and may not be used for any purpose without prior express written permission. Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organizations.
Please e-mail coca@cdc.gov should you note any written errors or discrepancies.
The CDC Health Partners Outreach Team’s Clinician Communication Section manages the Clinician Outreach Communication Activity (COCA) to ensure that clinicians have the up-to-date information they need.
The Health Partners Outreach Team offers a variety of free tools and resources to help you enhance your knowledge of emergency preparedness and response.
Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity – resources for Healthcare providers.
Risk Communicator – a quarterly online newsletter providing practical guidance for emergency risk communication strategy.
Subscribe the COCA RSS Feed – get notified of conference calls, updates, and CDC guidance for healthcare providers.
Communicating With Clinicians
CDC currently employs several mechanisms to communicate with clinicians on topics of urgent concern and interest.
Download this flyer to find out more
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